Some JW's Easing Up On Shunning?

Englishman

I wonder what percentage of Jehovah's witnesses actually practise the shunning policy personally?

Just a few observations..

I've been DF'd since 1972. Since then I have encountered numerous JW's, either by chance encounter in the street or in social situations such as pubs and restaurants. I've come across several in work situations also.

When I encounter a JW in the street, I am the first to look away as I won't ever give them the chance to shun me, so whether or not they would have spoken to me or not is unclear.

In social situations, I find that around 70% of JW's will eventually approach me and make conversation. Oftentimes, they will even offer to buy me a drink and then be happy to reminisce about old times. Occasionally they will ask if I ever think of going back. It's at this point that I gently point out one or more glaring faults in their teachings, usually the fact that the Bible doesn't even remotely connect the FDS with the 144,000.Then I drop the subject and talk about something else whilst observing the flickers of consternation that crosses their faces as they try to work out just where in the Bible does it make that essential connection?

If I encounter a JW in a work situation, I try to stay as professional as possible and hope that he does the same, although this did once cause me a job loss for which I was compensated for to the tune of £2000. If I find myself quoting a JW for work that he wants undertaken, then I don't, of course, tell them that I am DF'd, as I want their money as much as anyone elses.

Strangely, my died-in-the-wool JW Mum, door knocker and meeting attender extraordinaire, does not shun either me or my DF'd younger brother in the slightest degree. She even visits and stays at our home on regular occasions although she likes me to drop her at the local KH on meeting nights. She makes no effort to conceal her association with me from the elders either.

I don't know if my experiences are typical of other places, I'd be interested to hear about other examples of JW's privately relaxing their stance on the DF'ing issue.

Englishman.

Scully

For every JW who flouts the rules on shunning, there are probably a dozen who go to the other extreme and shun people just in case they should be shunned but nobody knows it yet. You also have the "who is going to report me for talking to Eman" factor... if the JW is alone, he will likely recognize that you are not going to report him, and if there is a group of them, they will all be equally culpable, so not likely to report on the others because they would be incriminating themselves as well. When done by a group, shunning is usually the decision of one person in the group and others feel compelled to go along, lest they suffer the consequences of not shunning.

I suspect your Mum gets away with it due to your willingness to provide her transportation to and from meetings, and companionship that she may otherwise not get from the congregation. If the elders dared to say anything to her about it, she has the perfect retort: "Well, which one of YOU blokes is going to do it??" She knows, as do the elders, that they will bend over backward to find a way to get out of that Christian obligation or Sacred Service™.

Love, Scully

DanTheMan

I have a feeling that UK JW's aren't quite as fanatical about following the Society's dictates to a "t" the way American dubbies are.

ozziepost

UK JW's aren't quite as fanatical about following the Society's dictates to a "t" the way American dubbies are

Could be so. Downunder they certainly aren't letting up. I experience that joyful privilege regularly each week. Say, maybe we should fill out a new "Shunning Report" and fill out how many shuns we've had each month and submit that to the KH!!

Cheers, Ozzie

Aztec

My parents have never shunned me, although sometimes I wish they would..grrrr! I am not da'd or df'd though and that may be why. They do shun two of my aunts, one is df'd due to the blood issue and one is a lesbian. It pisses me off to no end! They are both very kind, loving people. Gosh! My family is so screwed up!

~Aztec

Simon

We've never been ones to follow directions ... the British are naturally quietly rebellious (as long as they can do it without a fuss and much attention)

When we were still in, people sometimes had American friends visiting and they were invariably shocked and stunned by things that we thought were quite normal - I got the impression that they followed the WT to the letter whereas there were things that sometimes the whole cong would laugh out loud at.

Gadget

I've been DF'd for 6 months, and the only people who shun me are the elders in my hall. I've bumped into quite a few people when I'm out and about, and mostly they stop to say hi and ask how I'm doing. This includes a few elders from other halls too. Quite a few people say hi when I go into the hall too. I think its one of those things where they'll turn a blind eye as long as its not too obvious, or they want something against you. Thats my experience anyway.

jst2laws

Englishman,

We were totally shunned six months before we were DF'd. It appears announcements made from the platform and talk passed around was the method used to judge us. So when it had become official there was little change in our status, accept regarding family.

It does appear that cultures apply the shunning policy differently. Our Russian friend says he was hardly shunned after DAing himself.

I'm getting the impression that the US, as a culture, is a little more fundamentalist than Europe. After all, this is this country that tried to remove the President for fooling around. Is it possible the general attitude of the society we live in can affect the level of rigidity in the JW community?

Jst2laws

ozziepost

Quite a few people say hi when I go into the hall too.

I can't see that happening downunder!

Gadget

I think its one of those things where they'll turn a blind eye unless its too obvious or they want something against you.......

http://www.JEHOVAHS-WITNESS.com/6/53312/1.ashx

Some JW's Easing Up On Shunning?

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